Resources
Support Resources for Young Moms
A comprehensive directory of local services, programs, and supports available to families on the West Shore of Vancouver Island.
Housing and Basic Needs
BC Family Benefit / CRA Benefits
Income-tested family benefits and tax-related supports for families with children.
BC Housing
Provides information about affordable and subsidized housing; the housing registry, applications and housing resources, and rental assistance program, help with rent.
Anney's Closet
Addresses material poverty by assisting families in difficult transitions to set up a stable comfortable home. Stocks gently used household goods and furniture — families can self-select essential household goods at no cost. https://anneyscloset.ca/
Food & Financial Support
211 British Columbia
Provides help finding community programs and family resources — including the Greater Victoria Food Share, and information for housing, child care, financial assistance, health and community services.
Goldstream Food Bank
Provides families with food at no cost. Serves the working poor, single parents, seniors, and others. Call for schedule of hours.
Westshore Food Share
Provides a network of food-rescue and distribution programs that strengthen food security in the Westshore. Free food available on Fridays for pickup at 510 Mount View Avenue, Colwood in the car park area at the Church of the Advent.
Soroptimist Victoria Westshore Society – Food Security
Volunteers work to alleviate food insecurity for families in the Westshore by assembling and distributing food boxes of fresh and frozen food for families who can't attend the local food bank during the day. Also provides education awards and mentoring for leadership for women and girls.
Childcare, Parenting & Family Support
BC Government Child Care Information and Young Parent Program
Parents under the age of 25 may qualify for help to cover the cost of child care while they finish high school — up to $1,500 per month per child.
Child Care BC
Provides child-care information, finding licensed care and fee reduction/assistance programs; also includes a Child Care Benefit — a monthly payment to help eligible families with the cost of affordable, quality, inclusive child care.
Child Care Resource and Referral
A Child Care BC program that provides a list of childcare providers for families in their specific neighbourhood.
Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
Invested in the health of Island kids and ensuring families have access to the health care they need. Works with Island Health to operate and fund various health care services, including primary care through doctors and nurse practitioners.
Best Babies Program – West Shore Health Unit
Provides support services to pregnant families and their newborns up to 6–8 weeks of age; prenatal education, health nutrition, infant care; weekly group sessions with Public Health Nurse, Dietician, Dental Hygienist, BGC Youth/Family Counsellor.
Westshore Health Unit
Provides public health services: health promotion, disease prevention, intervention, and support services for children, youth and families in the West Shore — pregnancy, early parenting support, hearing, speech and language, and more.
West Shore Child, Youth & Family Services Society
Provides health care services for counselling, youth/family support and community-based services, team-based primary care through doctors and nurse practitioners. Provides trauma-informed healthcare to underserved populations and families of the Westshore — Colwood, Langford, Highlands or Metchosin.
Boys and Girls Club
Provides youth and family services, programs for youth — Licensed Before and After School Care, Youth Justice Services, Education and Youth Programs.
Island Metis Family Community Services
Provides programs that promote child safety and family wellness; skills, training, employment, postsecondary (STEPS); information and support re culture, heritage, language, education, early years K-12; Elders & Veteran Wellness, Health, Housing, Mental Health, Harm Reduction, Sports, Women and Gender Equity Youth programs, and more.
Ministry of Children and Family Development
MCFD funds six service categories for families, including services related to early childhood development, services for children and youth in need of support, child and youth mental health services and youth justice services.
Sooke Family Resource Society
Serving the Westshore and Sooke area, provides family support, parenting resources, early years and community programs.
Moms and Mentors Society
Mentors are respectful and compassionate volunteers committed to engaging in supportive relationships with moms and their children — providing friendship, guidance, parenting support; promoting literacy and education, hosting a scholarship program, free family activities, and partnering with other service clubs and key agencies.
1 UP Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre
Provides support and multiple programs for single parent families. A Moms and Mentors program is also available, originally based on the Moms and Mentors Society program, Westshore.
Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Promotes the traditional values, culture, and well-being of urban aboriginal people by strengthening individuals, family and community. Provides family services, addiction-related services, early childhood and youth services, and aboriginal early intervention services.
Thrive
Social service professionals provide service to children, youth and families with developmental disabilities.
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Affordable recreation, family programs, swimming and community activities.
Greater Victoria Public Library
Free library services, internet/computer access, literacy and family/children's programs.
Island Health
Automated attendant directory for local hospitals — Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health, and more.
Health Link BC (Nurses Line)
Nurses are Health Services Navigators available 24 hrs. to assist with health-related questions. Physical therapists and nutritionists available Mon–Fri 9–5pm. Pharmacists available outside business hours for medication-related questions.
Education & Employment
School District 62 Continuing Education
Information re programs and services for parents and students attending elementary and secondary schools, and adult education in the West Shore and Sooke.
Adult Education: School District 62, Westshore
For those interested in working on your BC Adult Graduation Diploma (BCAGD) or BC Secondary School Graduation Diploma (Dogwood Diploma); improve literacy and numeracy skills; upgrade courses for post-secondary transfer credits; English as an Additional Language (EAL) courses.
Belmont Secondary School
Secondary school serving the West Shore community.
Royal Bay Secondary School
Secondary school serving the West Shore community.
Camosun College
Student Navigators work with students who might like information for upgrading re their application, accessing their transcript, and more.
Royal Roads University
Post-secondary education opportunities in Langford.
WorkBC
Employment counselling, training, job search help, education and financial supports for eligible clients.
BC Family Benefit / CRA Benefits
Income-tested family benefits and tax-related supports for families with children.
Emergency, Mental Health & Addictions
Drug and Poison Information
Provides help and information re overdose/excess medication errors, biological toxicity (mushrooms, household chemicals, etc.). Call 911 for emergencies.
Crisis Centre BC
For immediate access to barrier-free, non-judgmental support — crisis support and suicide prevention resources. Call the BC Crisis Line or Dial 988.
Westshore Women's Transition House Society
Provides safe transitional housing in the Westshore for women and gender diverse people leaving violence. Also works in partnership with the Victoria Women's Transition House Society.
Help Starts Here
Listings for mental health, depression and substance use services in BC. Information for maintaining health, stress management; articles re emotional support and mental health resources.
The Foundry
Free/low-barrier mental health, substance-use, physical health and social support for youth and young adults.
Pacific Centre Family Services Association (PCFSA)
Provides a range of counselling and social services for residents across South Vancouver Island — including work with isolated seniors, individuals addressing family violence, youth outreach, family and couples counselling, substance use counselling, mental health counselling, and trauma therapy. The Westshore Community Health Centre (WSCHC) is a multidisciplinary primary care centre operated by PCFSA providing low-barrier, trauma-informed coordinated healthcare to underserved populations of the Westshore.
Island Health: Addiction Care
For those who want to reduce, stop or more safely use alcohol or drugs; who need help with withdrawal or finding treatment; or have concerns about their own or someone else's substance use.
Alcoholics Anonymous Help Line
Provides support for those who think they have a problem with alcohol and would like to speak with a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Support is available through fellowship sharing experiences, strength and hope.
South Vancouver Island Narcotics Anonymous
For information, support, resources, location and times of meetings.
Gambling Support Line
Provides support and services online for those affected by gambling.
Know a resource we should add?
If you're aware of a local service or program that would benefit families in our community, we'd love to hear from you.
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